Mine-laying device.



C. LARSEN.-

` MINE LAYNG DEVICE.

Y APPLICATION FILED DEc.3i, 1911.

mmm

Patented Ap?. 30, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

@fw/S@ 215673 C. LARSEN.

MINE LAYING DEVICE.

APPLrcATloN HLED DEC. 3l, |917.

Patented A131230, 1918.

l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

= vessel.

ments 7, the same will be prevented from swinging inwardly into thevessel thus, affording an eectual closure therefor and preventing thepassage of water into said Of course, it is to be understood thatvarious forms of packing may be arranged on the peripheral edges of theseveral closures 5 to insure water tight engagenient between the sameand the sides of the' openings receiving them. Dead-lights 8 may be andpreferably are arranged in the closures 5 and 4allow the movements of anoperator to be observed after the closures have been moved intoengagement with the openings for receiving the same.

As means for expelling any water which may accumulate in the tubes 2after the closures 3 have been moved to their closed positions, pumpingmechanism indicated in its entirety by the numeral 9 is arranged'therein and operated by a suitable source of power. It will be noted,that the exhaust conduit of the pumping mechanism is received insubstantially frusto-conical openings 10 formed in the adjacent portionsof the several closures 3. I-Ience, all water which has accumulated inthe tubes subse* quent to the closing of the closures 3 may be expelledprevious to the opening of the closures 5 and the entrance oftheoperators into said tubes.

Expansible coil Asprings or like devices designated by the numeral llare arranged adjacent the rear extremities of the several tubes andarranged with follower plates l2,

.which plates serve as means for normally placing the mine or explosivedevices arranged in said tubes under pressure and causing the same to bemoved forwardly, thereby facilitating the removal of the minestherefrom.

In order that the operators may be supplied with the necessary air andmay at all times be in communication with the occupants of the vessel,an air-conduit 13 and telephone wires 14 are passed through the closures5 into engagement with the head gears l5 of the diving suit of theoperators. It of course will be understood that the remaining ends ofthe conduit 13 and the wires 14 are engaged with a source of air supplyand a usual electrical telephone. Further, a transmitter and receiverare arranged in the head gear of the diving suit, and4 serve for anobvious purpose.

In operation, mines are of course arranged in the tubes 2 carried uponthe opposite sides of the vessel. When desiring to lay mines while thevessel is submerged, the pumping mechanism 9 is started to remove allwater which may have accumulated in the tubes A2, whereupon one or bothof the closures 5 are opened and an operator or operators pass throughthe openings in the sides of the vessel. When in the tube, the operatorlies in a prone position as shown in the F ig. 2 and when desired,releases the windlass 4t, thus allowing the closure 3 on which he isarranged to gradually move downwardly to a full open position due to theweight thereon. I/Vhen the closure is in its open position, the operatormay move to standing position and engage and remove one or any number ofthe mines arranged in the adjacent tube 2. Then the lmines have beenremoved, the operator may then leave the vessel and by propermanipulation, reach a point whereat it is desired to lay the mine orattach the saine to the hull of a ship. After the mine has been placed,the operator then, of Course, returns to the vessel and while lying inprone position upon the closures 3 operates the wind lass a to cause themoving of said closure into its closed position with relation to itsrespective tube 2. rI`he pumping mechanism 9 may be again started toremove all water from the tube, whereupon the closure 5 arranged in thecommunicating opening is removed; thus, allowing the operator to enterthe vessel.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood by persons skilled inthis art that I have provided an exceedingly eliicient and simplesubmarine device, which may be advantageously used in warfare for theplacing of mines, explosive devices or the like in the waterways of anenemy or to the bottom of the ships of an enemy without detection. Theattachment may be used for various other purposes not enumerated herein.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerablemodification and such modication as is within the scope of my claims, Iconsider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim l. In combination with a submarine vessel, compartments arrangedon the sides thereof and adapted to communicate with the interior of thevessel at times, said compartments having exit means for permitting anoperator to leave the same and for supporting the operator inworkingposition.

2. In combination with a submarine vessel, tubular members secured tothe opposite sides thereof and adapted to communicate with the interiorof the vvessel at times, said tubular members having exit means forpermitting an operator to leave the same and for supporting the operatorin working position.

3. In combination with a submarine vessel, tubulai` members arranged onthe sides thereof and adapted to Communicate with the interior` of thevessel, at times, and hinged elements secured to the sides of the vesselconforming in shape to said tubular sieg?- E members `for closing thesame and for supporting an operator in Working position when opened. j

l. ln combination with a submarine lvessel, compartments arranged on thesides thereof and adapted to communicate with the interior of the vesselat times, means for normally forcing articles forwardly in saidcompartments, and exit means in the compartments for permitting anoperator to leave the same.

5. In combination With a submarine vessel, a tubular member adjacent oneside thereof adapted to communicate with the interior of the vessel attimes, the forward portion or' said tubular member being removed, aclosure conforming in shape to the tubular member for closing theremoved portion therein, means for retaining said closure in its closedposition and for permitting the same to be released as desired, the

of the vessel having an opening formed therein adjacent the removednortion of said tube, and means `for normally closing said opening. l

ln testimony whereof, l aliix my signature hereto.

CHRIST LARSEN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patente,

` Washington, D. C."

